Fort Laurens Revisited

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Originally uploaded by Macian
A salute to the Unknown.

A few years back, I blogged about an event that occurs every year at the site where Fort Laurens once stood.  This outpost, often forgotten about in the annals of history, was manned for close to a year by brave men and women whose dream was that our country would one day be free from British rule.  There was nothing glamorous about their existence at the fort.  Often harassed by local tribes and cut off for months at a time, these brave individuals did what they had to do to make their dream become a reality.  And some of them took their last breath on these grounds.  Again, this is the ONLY site in the United States where there is a "Tomb of the Unknown Solider" for the American Revolution.  Not at Arlington.  Here.  So, if you're ever cruising through Ohio on I-77 on your way south, jump off at exit 93 and stop on over to the site.  If nothing else, to say, "Thanks".
You can click here to see all the pics I took on Saturday.

The road to freedom runs through Bolivar.

If you've been following my blog over the past couple of years, your probably familiar with the fact that I get pretty geeked-out every other year when the Civil War comes to town. Well, now I have something else to get all historically geeked up about. On Saturday, I attended the "Revolution on the Tuscarawas" which was put on by the Brigade of the American Revolution and the Ohio Historical Society. You see, not far from were I live there once stood an early American military outpost. Ft. Laurens was the only Revolutionary War outpost built in the area that is now known as Ohio. You can read all about the history of the fort here.
But what was probably the highlight of the day was when all of the reenactors, (Continental Army and British) assembled for a ceremony at the The Tomb of the Unknown Patriot of the American Revolution. We've all heard of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington Cemetery, and while that is hollowed ground and should be honored in the way that it is, the only monument to honor an unknown solider from the War of Independence is located here on this site. The words that were spoke were heartfelt and truly honored this American.
So if you're ever on I-77 near exit 93, stop by and spend a few minutes remembering those early Americans and their struggles as they fought to build this country.

Pictures of the event are on my Flickr page.